This unfailingly delivers splendid ripeness and intensity. Bright pink. Lifted red fruit aromas. Oodles of strawberry and red cherries, plus a herbal nuance. Plenty of texture. Perfect all rounder, fruity enough to enjoy on its own but also dry enough for food. Winner of a Gold Medal at this year’s Concours Général Agricole Paris. Now-2013

Product Code: GRV411

Owned by the Orosquette family, and named after the gravelly soil on the Etang de Marseillette, Château La Grave lies in the south-western part of the Minervois, now known as Les Balcons de l’Aude. This year the white Vin de Pays impressed, another take on the blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with local varieties. The unusual Expression white is based (80%) on a parcel of old vine Maccabeu, with Vermentino and Marsanne,
which makes for a surprisingly weighty wine at the price. Their Expression rosé, made largely from Syrah with Grenache, is always a real charmer, and is our best-selling rosé year after year. Tristan et Julien, named after a son and cousin here, is from about half and half Syrah and Grenache.